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FORT WAYNE, Ind. - A strong beginning for the Eastern Division led to a 6-2 All-Star Game victory Tuesday at Parkview Field. Jerry Sands slugged a first-inning home run and was named the MiLB.com Top Star MVP.

TinCaps RHP Jerry Sullivan was the East's starting pitcher. He allowed back-to-back singles to start the game, but Lake County's Chun Chen caught Wisconsin's Scooter Gennett stealing and Sullivan struck out the next two batters to get out of trouble.

In the bottom of the first, Great Lakes INF Christian Lara stroked a leadoff single, stole second and scored on a double by Lake County's Bo Greenwell. Sands followed by hammering the first pitch over the right-field wall to make it 3-0.

The East tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the second. With two outs, Lara doubled to put runners at second and third. Dayton's Henry Rodriguez followed with a two-run single to right to push the lead to 5-0.

The pitchers took control from there as it stayed 5-0 until the bottom of the seventh. Great Lakes INF Rafael Ynoa drove in a run with a groundout to make it 6-0.

The West got on the board in the top of the eighth as D'Marcus Ingram and Jean Segura led off with back-to-back singles. Ingram later scored on a passed ball.

In the top of the ninth, Casey Hearther of Cedar Rapids drove in Logan Watkins of Peoria to make it a 6-2 game.

Sullivan picked up the win while Peoria RHP Trey McNutt took the loss. A crowd of 6,026 was in attendance for the first MWL All-Star Game in Fort Wayne since 1994.

The TinCaps return to action Friday at Parkview Field against the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Class-A Tampa Bay Rays). Pitchers for the 7:05 p.m. tilt are to be determined.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.